Over the past couple of years, work-from-home setups have become more common, whether it’s a WFH agreement with a local company or a freelance setup where someone works for one or more clients from abroad. This is advantageous for many workers as it means they won’t be burdened with an everyday commute, not to mention the flexibility that it offers (especially for freelancers).
Of course, what’s important in any remote work setup is a capable partner for all work needs. With that in mind, Lenovo launched the IdeaPad Slim 5x, a laptop that comes with a wide array of features that make it a great partner for any and every digital professional. This was launched recently in the Philippines alongside Lenovo’s other new AI notebooks.
So, what makes this laptop a capable work and productivity partner? Well, it combines a new and capable processor with a great design, all while adding a bunch of useful AI features that promise to make work tasks more optimized.
Copilot+ PC Brings Plenty of Useful AI Features
Some of the more common remote work positions are in fields like graphic design, editing, writing, and administration, among others. In these cases, the use of AI has become quite prevalent. So, for professionals who want to or are already using AI in their workflow, the fact that the IdeaPad Slim 5x is a Copilot+ PC makes it a good partner.
Windows launched the Copilot+ PC lineup earlier this year alongside partners like Lenovo. Essentially, a Copilot+ PC-branded laptop is a notebook with a processor that comes with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks. This enables it to natively run select Windows AI software that’s currently exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.
One of these is the Image Creator for Paint. This is basically an image-generation software powered by Dall-E built into Paint. By clicking Image Creator on the top right corner of the screen on Paint, users can type a prompt and generate an image. What’s more, users can tweak various settings of the image like selecting an “anime” or “cyberpunk” art style to further refine their prompts.
This feature generates three images that users can add to their Paint canvas. This is a great tool to have given that users won’t need to go to AI-generation websites to create images for their presentation or as inspiration for an upcoming design project.
For even more options, there’s also the Cocreator feature in Paint. Users can draw something on Paint, and by selecting Cocreator, an AI-generated image will be produced that’s based on the drawing on the Paint canvas. Think of it as a visual prompt instead of using text. Of course, these features require the use of Credits, though there are 50 free Credits to start for every user.
Aside from these image-generation features, the IdeaPad Slim 5x also has other Copilot+ AI features, including restyle image and Image Creator in the Windows Photo app. These are AI-powered editing tools that can transform any image. There are also other nifty tools like Windows Studio Effects that add blur and automatic framing for video calls, along with Live Captions with translation when watching content in another language.
The Snapdragon X Plus-Powered IdeaPad Slim 5x Delivers Reliable Performance
While the vast majority of laptops are powered by either Intel or AMD processors, the IdeaPad Slim 5x packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus. Qualcomm may be more known for its mobile ARM processors, but with the Snapdragon X line, Qualcomm is making the jump to Windows.
Without getting too technical, Windows PCs and programs are made for x86 processors from Intel and AMD. Meanwhile, smartphones use ARM processors which are known for their power efficiency. As such, there have been many initiatives to make Windows laptops with ARM processors.
With this new Snapdragon X lineup though, ARM laptops are a reality, and they don’t disappoint when it comes to performance. While not all apps are natively supported, plenty of popular programs already run smoothly, including Microsoft Office and even select Adobe apps like Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
Essentially, most apps needed by a working professional or a freelancer should run properly on the IdeaPad Slim 5x. What’s more, the Snapdragon X Plus also runs them well in our tests as we even did some lighter content creation on it (like editing videos) without many issues.
Thus, this laptop should deliver reliable performance for someone working remotely, whether it’s writing articles, editing photos, or creating presentations. What’s more, battery life is also good thanks to it being an ARM processor. This means you can work for hours on end without having to plug the laptop in – great if you’re planning to work outside or if you’re a digital nomad.
On a side note, while this is not designed for gaming, we did run some popular titles on the laptop like Dota 2 which ran fairly smoothly (around 50 FPS) on the lower settings. While not all games would run well, more casual titles should work.
Eye-Catching Display for Work and Play
To complement the good performance, the IdeaPad Slim 5x packs a quality display that should make it a great match for both work and play.
Specifically, the laptop has a 14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display with 300 nits of peak brightness. As you may have noticed, this laptop has a 16:10 display which is our preferred resolution for work. After all, the extra screen height lets you see more of your document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
Aside from the aspect ratio, the screen is also great for working long hours as it comes with TÜV Eyesafe low blue light certification. Thus, your eyes shouldn’t get strained when working on this laptop.
A Proper Mobile Office Setup in a Portable Package
The great thing about online work is that you can be productive wherever you go, be it at home, at a café, or even at a resort (if you’re a freelancer). Of course, you’ll need a proper laptop if you plan to bring your office wherever you go.
In this regard, the IdeaPad Slim 5x won’t disappoint. That’s not just because of its great battery life though. This laptop is also a nice match for your online conferencing needs thanks to its webcam and mic setup.
Specifically, the laptop has a 1080p webcam which is noticeably sharper than other webcams that only have a 720p resolution. It even comes with a physical privacy shutter which is always a plus. As for its mic, the laptop has a dual microphone setup, promising clear audio.
Then, there’s connectivity. This laptop has a full I/O suite, including two USB Type-A, two USB Type-C, HDMI, a microSD card reader, and a headphone/mic combo jack. With these, you won’t need to bring dongles with you if you’re planning to be productive outside your home.
Other nifty additions include a fingerprint reader for hassle-free device security and a 65W USB-C adapter which charges the laptop fast while being slim and light.
Speaking of slim and light, the Slim 5x also lives up to its name given how thin it is. Coupled with the fact that it weighs only 1.46 kg, this new IdeaPad is easy to bring with you wherever you go.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x: Price and Availability in the Philippines
Having a work-from-home setup or being a digital freelancer has become quite common now, and for those who are already working remotely or are interested in transitioning into one, having the right device is key to making it all work.
In that regard, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x should be a worthy online work partner thanks to its combination of reliable performance, wealth of AI features, and functional design. With these features, the IdeaPad Slim 5x is definitely worth considering for users in the market for a new work laptop.
Interested in getting one? The IdeaPad Slim 5x is available now in the Philippines for PHP 71,995 in Lenovo concept stores and partner retailers nationwide.